Kisses...only 25 cents!

A few moms and their posses (aka kiddos) from around town got together for a Valentine themed play date last week.  HB and I enjoyed the outing; we took silly pictures, ate more than we should have and enjoyed making a Valentine card for daddy that combined fingerpainting Lil Man's hands and feet.  Enjoy the pictures below - I plan on black mailing my first born son with these adorable snapshots someday!

Mr. Sweet Cheeks!  He kept looking at Sadie the dog - I think he wanted to kiss her.

I can't resist planting a kiss on my wee one!

Christ's One and Only

Whether or not you are a Christ-follower or not, I hope this short post today will be an encouragment to you.  I think a part of all of us has been fashioned so that we desire to be someone's "one and only."  I may be wrong in this assumption when including men, but I know as women, we desire to be pursued and loved this way.  I was reminded late last week in a Beth Moore study I am participating in that each of us is Christ's "one and only."  Read and think about this quote from her below:

"Somehow in His limitless capacity to love, nurture and watch over us, Christ can attend to each of us as if we are the only one in the world."

So, as Valentine's Day looms on the horizon this week, I hope this post serves as a quick reminder of God's love for you.  He knows everything about you and your life - He purposefully crafted you in your mother's womb - He cares for you in a personal way.  I pray that you remember that each of us is Christ's "one and only."

Sticky Buns

Whatcha Making Wednesday: Sticky Buns

I had the best intentions of getting this posted Wednesday but other things came up.  Like a hungry baby, crying baby, a teenager who needed taking to youth group and dishes that did not get done until last night because HB throws a huge fit if not allowed to climb into the dishwasher.  I shouldn't be surprised that these same distractions occur on a daily basis but some weeks seem to be full of such things and few things go as planned.  With that said though, I am delighted to share this recipe with you; the main reason being that I typically fail at recipes involving yeast.  (Case in point: my parmeson herb rolls two weeks ago resembled hockey pocks more than rolls.  Seriously.  Ask my husband.  He is still laughing.)  However, this recipe seemed to be a success plus my husband LOVES any type of morning delight such as these sticky buns.  The recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbooks American Bistro.  The recipes tend to have numerous ingredients but every one that I have tried has been phenomenal.

Enjoy the recipe below!  Oh, and I plan on making these Giant Cinnamon Twists for hubby on Valentine's Day.  I would love to try your favorite recipe for morning treats - please share a link or email!

Ingredients
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 1/4 cups milk (do not use nonfat)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs

Filling
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Topping
3/4 cup firmly packed brwn sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons corn syrup
3/4 cup chopped pecans

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (I think you could use 4 here and still have more than enough)

Directions
(If you're like me, you'll want to complete steps 1-3 the night before so you can let the yeast work it's magic overnight!)

1-In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour with yeast.  In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the milk, sugar, butter and salt, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted.  Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm.

2-Add the lukewarm milk mixture to the flour mixture along with the eggs.  Using a mixer, beat on low speed for 30 seconds.  Increase speed to high and beat for 3 minutes.  Stir in as much of the remaining 3 cups flour as possible.  Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead in the remaining flour for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the dough is soft.

3-Shape the dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl, turning the ball once to coat.  Cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough rise overnight (or at least 2 hours).

(Go to sleep...dream of yumminess in the morning.  Make sure to wake up in time enough to let the dough rise once more in the morning.)

4-Prepare the filling.  Combine all filling ingredients in a food processor (if you have one) and pulse until the pecans are finely chopped.  Set aside and butter a 9 by 13 baking dish.

5-Prepare the topping.  Combine the brown sugar, melted butter and corn syrup in a bowl.  Spread the mixture in the bottom of prepared baking pan.  Sprinkle pecans over top.

6-Punch dough down and knead again on a lightly floured surface.  Divide the dough in half and shape each into a ball.  Place the 2 balls back into the greased bowl, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.

7-On a lightly floured surface, roll out half the dough into a 10 by 12 inch rectangle.  Spread with 2-3 tablespoons of the room temperature butter.  Sprinkle half the filling mixture over the rectangle.  Starting with the short side, roll up the rectangle like a jelly roll and brush water on the end to help seal the seam.  Make the second roll the same way.

8-Slice each roll crosswise into 6 pieces.  Arrange all 12 pieces in the prepared baking dish.  Cover loosely with a towel and let rise for 1 hour.  Turn oven on to 350 degrees F.

9-Bake the rolls for 22-25 minutes, or until light brown.  Remove baking dish from oven, place wax paper over the rolls, and invert the baking dish to release the buns and topping.  Serve warm!

Motherhood & Failure: a changing perspective

Many people ask how I like staying home as a mom.  My usual response includes something to the effect of "I love it but it definitely comes with its own set of challenges."  I guess I include the part about the challenges because I don't think enough peeople associate the challenges that go hand in hand with being a stay at home mom.  I am not trying to solicit your pity here friends, just trying to be honest.  Many times I think people consider the life of a stay at home mom as easy, casual, laid back et cetera.  Don't get me wrong, it can be those things, but as I have learned in the past nine months, staying at home full time to raise children is an excellent way of refining your relationship with Christ and Christ pointing out your sinful nature.  As I mentioned in our 2012 Christmas card I have learned much about Christ's grace in my life - recently I have been working through feeling like a failure as a mother.

A failure?  Yes, you read correctly.  With my type A personality I am driven to become proficient at skills that I enjoy using.  Example - I enjoy cooking and baking so I have spent many hours practicing my amateur skills in that area.  I love to read cook books and blogs about food and am perpetually experimenting with new recipes and techniques that seem doable.  As I have found out though, mothering or parenting is not a skill to be attained.  I am humbly finding out that I will often feel like a failure in this area of my life if I consumed with a "me" centered approach in trying to attain proficiency.  That's not to say that I won't become better at it overtime.  My perspective is changing though - God has called me to stay at home and help raise our children on a day-to-day basis and He has been generous in making this possible for our growing family.  Instead of just a skill that I am trying to become proficient at though I guess I am starting to see how God will use motherhood in my life as His way of refining, growing, teaching, admonishing, and yes, humbling me.

I am a new sojourner on this road called parenting.  I am beyond grateful for the women in my life who have already encouraged me, lifted me up in prayer and shared their wisdom and insight on all things practical when it comes to raising kids and even more importantly what God has to say about being a mom.  And I look forward to continuing to have my perspective modified as I travel down this path.

The Tax System explained in Beer

I consider myself fairly conservative when it comes to politics - I don't share stuff like this often but I think this story provides an excellent illustration of how unfair our tax system is for the wealthy.  I believe everyone who expects to benefit from any type of government program (driving on roadways, receiving fire protection from local fire houses, has children attending public school, et cetera) should contribute to the government piggy bank through taxes.  In other words I believe every citizen (and non-citizen for that matter who still receives "free" benefits) should pay taxes.  No pay, no play.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.

If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this…


The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing

The fifth would pay $1

The sixth would pay $3

The seventh would pay $7

The eighth would pay $12

The ninth would pay $18

The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59


So, that’s what they decided to do.


The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve ball. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20″. Drinks for the ten men would now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes. So the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men ? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his fair share?

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.

The bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by a h higher percentage the poorer he was, to follow the principle of the tax system they had been using, and he proceeded to work out the amounts he suggested that each should now pay.

And the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% saving).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% saving).

The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% saving).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% saving).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% saving).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% saving).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But, once outside the bar, the men began to compare their savings.

“I only got a dollar out of the $20 saving,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,”but he got $10!”

“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar too.  It’s unfair that he got ten times more benefit than me!”

“That’s true!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back, when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks!”

“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison, “we didn’t get anything at all. This new tax system exploits the poor!”

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had their beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and government ministers, is how our tax system works. The people who already pay the highest taxes will naturally get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas, where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. – Professor of Economics.


Thanks for sharing Kami!

HB at 9 months

HB was 9 months old this week!  Time has flown by and I can't believe that he is already three quarters of the way to being one year old!  Reflecting back on my life instead of his for a moment, I never imagined children of my own in my future.  Although I have always loved kids, they were something I never expected from God.  I am so grateful for the chance to be a mama, and a stay at home one at that.  I am surprised daily by the joy HB brings me even in the smallest things he does.  Praise God for His good gifts.

HB's classic 9 month photo taken in his great, great, great grandfather's rocking chair. He's working on growing into his first straw hat!

In an effort to be remembered as a part of my son's childhood, I make an effort to be in one photo per month.  This was January's "momma and HB" photo.  Baby sister is still baking, quite happily, at 23 weeks.

Hubby has had Kolby, one of our guardian dogs, for close to 16 years now.  He's passed his working days of guarding our flock of 50 ewes but is really great with Brandy and HB.  I wanted to make sure we got some pictures with them together before we don't have the chance anymore.

Our daily lives are not complete and certainly not as joyful without big sister Brandy.  Momma and Daddy seem more like chopped liver when she is around.  HB lights up as soon as she walks in a room.

My firstborn son,

I am so grateful for you.  I love playing with you at this age; you love turning the pages on your books over, and over, and over.  You have started nodding your head "no" although you don't really associate the word with the action.  It is quite cute though, especially when you do it as we are strapping you into your carseat.  You love being outdoors especially because it allows you to stare up at the Cottonwood trees and look at the leaves as they rustle in the wind.  The chickens, especially our white rooster, captivate you whether you are up close or looking through the windows.

Eating has become even more fun at mealtimes now that you participate.  Although you'd rather stand in your high chair, you sure enjoy apple slices, tomatoes, bananas and avocados.  Eating from a spoon isn't quite as fun but you tolerate it.  You love your sippy cup too and often raise it over your head in victory, like you just won an eating tournament.  You are absolutely adorable too as you chew your food; I have loved watching you learn to chew.

You are proficient at crawling and I love the independence this has brought you.  You crawl really fast after your sister and anytime you see the door open up to the outside.  When you get really excited as you crawl you grunt and huff and puff.  You are making all kinds of new sounds, the most exciting of which is "da" - when you say enough "da's" together it sounds like you are calling your Dad.

I love you son.  I look forward to the awesome ways that God will continue to grow and develop you both physically and mentally.  I am already amazed.

Love,
Momma

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Whatcha Making Wednesday: Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Buffalo sauce
• shredded chicken (I use one can – it’s easy!)
• 2 tb butter
• 1/2 cup franks hot sauce (adjust amount based on amount of heat you like)
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Melt butter in pan...then stir in sauce, sugar, vinegar and heat through...add your shredded chicken.



White sauce
• 2 tb greek plain yogurt or sour cream
• 2 tb mayo
• salt and garlic powder

Stir all together and set aside.

1. Preheat oven to 400. Pre-bake crust if needed.
2. Spread a layer of the white sauce on the pizza crust of your choice.
3. Top with buffalo chicken mixture.
4. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and chopped red onion.
5. Bake about 10 minutes.

Brandy and I actually had this for dinner earlier this week while Hubby was on shift.  He's more of a ham and sausage kind of pizza guy so we made this for our girls night (plus HB)!